Weld trimming apparatus



May 9, 1939. G. SPATTA wELD TRIMMING APPARATUS 2 sheets-sheet 1 Original Filed Nov. 23, 1936 May 9, 1939. Q sPATTA 2,157,680

WELD TRIMMING APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 23, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 9,y 1939 UNITED STATES WELD TRIMMING APPARATUS George Spatt'a, Buchanan,I Mich.,

(Hark Equipment Company, Buchanan.

asignor to Mich.,

a corporation of Michigan original applleatlen November 2s, 193s, serial Ne.

112,247. Divided and this application September 3, 1937, serial No. 162,297

s claims. (c1. sol-43) f This invention relates to apparatus employed in .the forming of reinforcing rings, and mdre pal'- ticularly is directed to such apparatus for trim- 'ming the welded junction of reinforcing rings I formed as disclosed in my copending application, serial No. 112,247, flied November 23, 19.36, f which the present application is a division. It has been found necessary in the fabrication of rear axle housings of the banjo type to reinforce the banjo frame anges by hat ring members or the like in order to provide adequate support for the differential earlier assembly, and such reinforcing rings are ordinarily placed `in position about the banjo f rame opening and u welded securely to the aange by both external and internal welds. This is disclosed more in detail in my copending application, Serial No. 147,- 655, led June 11, 1937.

The present invention is particularly directed to a trimming apparatus which will trim the welded junctions of rings formed, as disclosed in my mst-mentioned copending application.

As disclosed in said parent application, a piece of strip stock of rectangular cross-section and convenient length is flrst passed edgewise through suitable rolling apparatus toform a tightly Wound helix having a number of coils. This coil is then placed in suitable position and cut radially at one side to provide a number of split rings which have their ends laterally displaced. The rings are then ash welded at their adjacent ends to produce continuous ring members, theweld being then trimmed in the apparatus disclosed herein. After the trimming operation, the rings are sized and straightened prior to their application to the banjo anges.

One object of the present invention resides in the manner in which the rings are trimmed after welding so as to leave no projections which would interfere with the placing of the ring in fiat position on the banjo flange. This also insures that the rings 'can be accurately sized and shaped after the trimming operation.

4Another feature of the present invention resides .in providing a trimming apparatus, which can be easily set up -to accommodate different sizes of rings and which can be/fadjusted to produce any desired trimming of the welded junction.

is the provision of trimming apparatus having means thereon, whereby the ring can be accurately positioned for the trimming operation,

Still another feature of the present invention and the two operations of trimming the weld both radially and laterally can be carried on with a minimum of effort by an unskilled operator.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings will disclose to those skilled in the art, the particular construction and operation of a preferred form of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ring member after the ends thereof have been welded;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the ring adjacent the weld;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the ring trimming mechanism; and

' Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the machine shown in Figure 3.

After the helical coil has been formed from the flat stock and has been cut to form the plurality 1 of individual ring members, the ends of each of thuese ring members are welded .by flash.w elding, or. in any other suitable manner. The cutting operation produces a plurality ofthe ring members which are of split form and have the ends thereof spaced apart a distance corresponding to "the width of the saw cut. The adjacent s ends of these rings, such as the ring 50 shownv in Figure 1, are then -welded as indicated at 52. This welding operation produces a ash at the adjacent ends indicated-by the dotted line 5l in Figure 2, which would materially interfere with the mounting of this ring on the banjo flange due to the fact that it would space the ring from the surface of the flange. Also, thel radial ash at the inner and outer peripheries would interfere .the housing, and also would affect the smooth appearance of the banjo frame.

For these reasons, I have found it necessary to trim this flash in order to provide a uniform ring having smooth surfaces, which can be placed in coplanar contact with the banjo flange and can be readily welded thereto. The trimming mechanism for producing this result is shown in Figures 3 and 4.

This mechanism comprises a stand or pedestal BIJ having a top facing support 62 upon which is mounted vthe base plate 63 by means of a plurality of cap screws 64. Supported for reciprocation at the upper end of the stand is a power head 65 which may be actuated for vertical re.- ciprocation by any suitable means, such as a hydraulic piston, gear means or electrical mechansm.

The head Il has a punch holder II carried thereby to which is welded a face plate I1, as indicated at 6l. At its lower surface, the punch holder 66 carries a block 99 secured thereto by the cap screws 1li, which in turn supports a pair of depending punches 12 provided with shear blades 19 spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of the reinforcing ring.

A ring pad 14 is mounted betweenthe shear blades 1l on a supporting plate 15 secured to the base plate 83 by the screws 1B and a stripping plate 11 mounted on the block 1l which is also secured to the supporting plate 1l. The plate .11 has an apertured portion 19 receiving the rear punch 12 and has a cross portion 90 disposed above the ring pad 1I for the purpose of stripping the ring from the shear blades when the power head 65 is raised.

Removably secured` to the face plate 91 is a pilot plate 82 which is of a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the ring 59. This pilot is secured to the plate 61 by the cap screws 83 extending therethrough substantially centrally of the plate, and can be demounted for the substitution of various sizes of pilot plates, depending upon the size of the ring being trimmed. Adjacent the lower portion of the face plate, there is provided a recess 94 which extends also through the face plate B1 in order to provide for clearance for the plate 61 and the pilot plate with respect to a pair of shear blade holders 95. These holders are substantially L-shaped and are secured to the base plate 93 by the cap screws 96. They provide vertically. extending laterally spaced arm portions 88 between which are disposed shear blades 89 and 90, respectively, which extend in opposite angular directions as indicated in Figure 4, and serve to shear off the flash on the lateral faces of the ring 5l! as the ring is carried downwardly by the pilot 82. The holders 85 are spaced apart a distance such as to permit entry of the ring 50 therebetween, this entrance being facilitated by the rounded portion 92 at the upper ends of the arms 88.

In order to center the ring 50 in position for shearing by the punches 12, suitable adjustable gauges 95 are mounted upon the ends of the gauge bracket 96 secured at its center to the supporting block 91 mounted on the plate 83. The

' gauges 95 are spaced apart a distance corresponding to a chord across the internal diameter of the ring 50, while a third gauge member 98 is mounted on the outer end of the plate 83 to receive the portion of the ring 50 opposite the weld 52. Thus when the ring 50 is placed in the dotted line position shown in Figure 3, it is automatically centered with respect to the punch by means of the gauges 95 and 98 so that the welded portion 52 thereof is disposed over the ring pad 14 in position to be-engaged by the shear blades 13 carried by the punch holders 12.

In the operation of this mechanism, the ring 50 is first placed about the pilot l2 and the head 64 is then lowered by hydraulic pressure or the like. This forces the lower end of the ring between the brackets or holders I5, and allows the shear blades 89 and 9|! to shear away the extraneous welding material on the lateral faces of the ring. As the pressure head 65 is raised, the ring 50 is removed from the pilot 82 and placed in horizontal position as determined by the gauges 95 and 98. The head is then again-lowered, and the blades 13 shear oil' any remaining extraneous material from the outer and inner edges of the ring, thus forming the ring with planar sides and smooth circular inner and outer peripheries.

It is. believed obvious that by adjustable mounting of the gauges 95 and 98 and the -removable character of the pilotplate 82, rings of any desired size may be trimmed in this mechanism with facility. Also, the machine is simple in design and operation and is capable of rapid operation for securing the desired speed of trimming commensurate with mass production and economy.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred form of the present invention, it is to be understood, of course, that various changes may be made'in the details of the structure without departing from the fundamental principles involved. I therefore do not intend to be limited except as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a machine for trimming the weld between adjacent ends of a split ring, a frame, a power head reciprocatory with respect thereto, pilot means on said frame supporting said ring in horizontal position, a stripper plate on said frame overhanging the welded face of said ring, and shearing means on said head for trimming the weld on opposite edges of said ring. said stripper plate holding said ring in position as said head moves upwardly after a shearing operation.

2. In a machine for trimming the weld between adjacent ends of a split ring, a frame, a power head reciprocatory with respect thereto, pilot means on a vertical face of said head supporting said ring in a vertical position thereon, a pair of shearing members on said frame in alinement with opposite faces of said ring when so supported, means for lowering said head to move said ring between said members, and means in said head accommodating said movement of said ring.

3. A machine for trimming the weld of a butt end welded fiat ring comprising a frame, means on said frame for supporting said ring in a horizontal plane thereon with the weldfpositioned on a ring pad, a stripper plate above said ring and having punch-receiving openings, a power head reciprocatory vertically on said frame and having a pair of depending punches, and means for lowering said head to shear oi! the radial projections of said ring weld as the punches move through said openings on opposite sides of said ring pad.

4. A machine for trimming the weld of a butt end welded flat ring comprising a frame, a pair of blade holders mounted thereon, blades in said holders directed upwardly and spaced apart a distance equal to. the axial thickness of said ring, a power head, means on said head for supporting the ring thereon in a vertical plane alined 'with said blades, a recess in said means whereby the lower end of said ring may pass between said blades, and means for raising and lowering said head.

5. In a machine for trimming the weld between adjacent ends oi' a split ring, a frame and a vertically movable power head, means supporting said ring in vertical position on said head including a portion cut away adjacent the lower portion of the ring, and cutter means on said frame for receiving said ring upon downward movement of said head and trimming away any portions of said weld projectingfrom the lateral surfaces of said ring, said cut-away portion allowing fuil movement of said ring past said cutter means.

6. In a `machine for trimming the weld between adjacent ends of a split ring. a frame, a

'power head reciprocatory with respect thereto,

pilot means on said frame supporting said ring in a plane normal to movement of said head, stripper means on said frame in alinement with the welded face of the ring, andshearing means on the head for trimming the weld on opposite edges of the ring, said stripper means holding said ring in position as said head moves away from the ring after a shearing operation.

'7. In a machine for trimmingy the weld between the adjacent ends of a split ring, a frame,

a power head reciprocatory with respect thereto, pilot means for supporting said ring on said head in a plane parallel to the direction of movement thereof, a pair of shearing members on of said members and spaced apart a distance such as to cut the ash from opposite surfaces of said ring upon relative movement of said members.

GEORGE SPATI'A. 

